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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it’s impossible to get pregnant whilst I’m still breastfeeding?

96 replies

Latinorapida · 03/10/2021 14:29

Still breastfeeding 13mo and haven’t had a period. I’ve read that for breastfeeding women it can take about 6 months for periods to return.

My ds is still breastfeeding a fair amount. A few times in the day and quite a bit at night. I’d love to start thinking about another one so they could ideally have a 2 year age gap. All my siblings were way older than me and that wasn’t much fun.

Do I have to stop breastfeeding?

Am I right to think that if my periods haven’t return I definitely am not fertile?

Any experience with this?

Not quite ready to give up breastfeeding as it’s the only way I get ds to sleep!

THanks x

OP posts:
DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 03/10/2021 15:22

Sorry I don’t think I made it clear - I still have not had a period!

Perfectly normal at 13 months and like others have said, you don't need your periods to return in order to get PG. I got PG before mine returned Smile

username39572 · 03/10/2021 15:27

Yes you can get pregnant because ovulation happens before a period. So whenever you do get your first period you would have ovulated and been fertile about 14 days before.

I got pregnant with my second whilst still bf my first including night feeds.

c24680 · 03/10/2021 15:28

My friend got pregnant while BF and no periods.

Also I got pregnant after coming off the depo after 7 years and periods hadn't return.

ViceLikeBlip · 03/10/2021 15:30

I fell pregnant twice before I'd had my first post partum period. But I'm quite experienced with looking out of signs of ovulation, so to me it was very obvious I was ovulating (I was looking to ttc ASAP, so I was very pleased to have caught that first egg before I'd even had a period!)

So basically, you always ovulate BEFORE your first period, so just because your periods haven't started back up again, it doesn't mean it's safe!!

Mamascoven · 03/10/2021 15:32

Iv got pregnant 3 times while breastfeeding. Currently pregnant with number 4 and just finished feeding dc3. Although for me it didnt happen till I had dropped the night feeds.

HouseOfFire · 03/10/2021 15:33

To think it’s impossible to get pregnant whilst I’m still breastfeeding?

Only if you are not having sex

Babyiwantabump · 03/10/2021 15:34

I got pregnant while still breastfeeding. I didn’t even know I was pregnant because I didn’t have that first period I was just pregnant again! DS was 14 months I think .

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 03/10/2021 15:35

I got pregnant whilst breastfeeding.

Never had a period.

Met DH at front door with positive test and baby in arms sort of laughing and sobbing "this is why I'm so bloody tired"

WandaVision2 · 03/10/2021 15:36

I breastfed and hadn’t had a period but still got pregnant with DC2

SparrowNest · 03/10/2021 15:41

Mine came back when my firstborn was 15 months, I made an effort to eat a lot of calories for a month or so before which I knew was supposed to help, but it could he coincidence. I got pregnant when she was 19 months, the first month we tried.

RiojaRose · 03/10/2021 15:42

I got pregnant with DS when DD was 13 months away old. I was breastfeeding and hadn’t had a period.

Bettiespaghetti · 03/10/2021 15:44

Just a gentle thought, and I don't mean this in an unkind way, but if you wean this child before you want to and then still don't get pregnant, how would you feel about it? Don't spoil the 'now' for a 'possible' that may not happen.

I'm obviously a freak of nature but my periods never returned after DS3 because I went through the menopause ridiculously early at 33. Confused

iolaus · 03/10/2021 16:07

Lactational Amenorrhea (breastfeeding as a contraception) relying on the following three rules

  1. breastmilk is the ONLY form of nutrition for the baby (ie you haven't started solids or giving formula - I have heard of these being clarified to no more than 4 hours between feeds so baby sleeps through the night and can't assume you won't ovulate)
  2. your periods haven't returned
  3. the baby is UNDER 6 months old

As soon as one of those rules is broken there is a increased chance of ovulation - and therefore of conception

Crunchymum · 03/10/2021 16:15

DC3 was conceived on CD6, a condom was used and I was still BFing (albeit was feeding a 2.5yo and my periods had long since returned) but it was a bit of a shock to get a positive!!!

EmoIsntDead · 03/10/2021 16:18

YABU and very naive about your body. Of course there's a chance you could be pregnant, the only way you will know is to do a test.

Thelnebriati · 03/10/2021 16:21

Am I right to think that if my periods haven’t return I definitely am not fertile?

You ovulate first; then 2 weeks later if you aren't pregnant you menstruate. So you will be fertile before your periods return.

Iamsodonewith2020 · 03/10/2021 16:21

4 children here. Child 3&4 only 13 months apart as I also believed as baby no 3 was breastfeeding constantly and I had had no periods then I couldn’t get pregnant. Didn’t find out about pregnancy no 4 till nearly 5 months either as no weight gain!!!!

DontWantTheRivalry · 03/10/2021 16:32

I wouldn’t use periods as a guide…

When I was BF’ing my first baby my periods returned at 4 months and came every 28-30 days like clockwork.

When we were trying to conceive number 2 I was still breastfeeding my first and despite my regular periods it just wasn’t happening. After 11 months of trying my GP told me that for some women, even if they are having normal and regular menstruation, they still can’t get pregnant unless they stop breastfeeding and so she advised that’s what I did, and I got pregnant the following month.

Then on the other hand you hear loads of stories of breastfeeding women getting pregnant.

There are lots of theories around conception and breastfeeding but it’s variable from woman to woman.

Allthingspeaches · 03/10/2021 16:36

I didn't get my periods back until he was 17 months old. I got pregnant once before and am currently 35 weeks. It does happen frequently.

You may need to space out some of your feeds and particularly the night feeds to allow prolactin to reduce and allow your fertility hormones to increase.

ParadiseLaundry · 03/10/2021 16:43

@DressedUpAtAnIvy

Night weaning would help.
I also believe night weaning (or massively reducing feeds over night) is the key to your periods returning. Mine returned with my first at 15 months and I got pregnant as soon as we started trying even though I was still feeding.
ichundich · 03/10/2021 16:46

I fell pregnant with my second whilst bf my 2 year old. I already had regular periods again at this point though. Once I was pregnant the bf was quite painful due to sensitive nipples and low milk supply.

FTEngineerM · 03/10/2021 16:47

The baby on my shoulder dribbling down my back tells you you’re wrong OP

BurningBenches · 03/10/2021 16:48

I got pregnant with DC3 whilst still breastfeeding DC2. 17m gap.

peachescariad · 03/10/2021 17:02

Oh yes...got pregnant with no. 3 when no. 2 was 7 months...didn't have a period and had just finished minimal bf

londonrach · 03/10/2021 17:07

You can get pregnant whilst breastfeeding...you can also get a period weeks after giving birth and breastfeeding....just had both happen to a friend. Yabu

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